Have you ever heard of the phrase “food is medicine” ? Well, there might be some truth to it when it comes to endometriosis and the food you eat according to several studies. Endometriosis is essentially an inflammatory disease, so eating anti-inflammatory foods that are high in antioxidants is key. There are also several studies such as Diet and endometriosis risk: a literature review which discuss how someone’s diet can increase their risk of developing endometriosis. In this post, we discuss 3 tips to help manage endometriosis symptoms with the food you eat.

Please note, that this is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always consult with a qualified and trusted medical professional too.

Increase low GI foods 

Low GI foods include sweet potato, brown bread and pasta. Foods that are high in GI (white bread, potatoes) increase insulin, which then increases the amount of endometriosis cells. GI stands for the glycaemic index, and measures the impact the food has on the body’s blood sugar levels.

Avoid foods that cause inflammation

Dairy and red meat are known to be the cause of significant inflammation. Red meat contains palmitic acid which contributes to inflammation. A great way to reduce the amount of red meat intake is to replace it with whole foods like vegetables. Dairy contains lactose which is a sugar that could be difficult for some people with endometriosis to digest or breakdown. Gluten has also been found to cause inflammation, as well as disturb the balance of hormones, and according to research by the Saint Louis School of Medicine eliminating gluten can drastically reduce pelvic pain. Anything that has added sugar to it should be completely avoided.

Focus on the fats

Eating healthy and natural fats from fruits and nuts can improve endometriosis symptoms. Avoid processed fried food and fats like fries, cakes and pastries. Unhealthy fats like trans fats is commonly found in processed food and increases inflammation. Omega-3 is an example of a healthy fat which is in fact anti-inflammatory and can improve inflammation symptoms. Foods rich in Omega-3 include fish, nuts and seeds.